System and method for communicating using a multiserver platform

ABSTRACT

Aspects of the invention include receiving a first packet from a first of a plurality of blade servers at a first data rate and determining a second blade server that may receive the first packet. Data responsive to the received first packet may be transferred to the second blade server at a negotiated first data rate. A second packet comprising at least a portion of the first received packet may be transferred to the second blade server at the negotiated data rate. At least a portion of the first received packet may be transferred to at least the second blade server via a common bus. In another aspect of the invention, at least a third packet may be received from a network at a second data rate. Data responsive to the third packet may be transferred to at least a third blade server at a newly negotiated data rate.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS/INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

[0001] This application makes reference to, and/or claims priority toand/or claims benefit to:

[0002] U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/448,656,entitled “A Method and System to Provide External Communication Using aMulti-Server Plafform Having a Single Switch Backplane” and filed onFeb. 18, 2003;

[0003] U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/456,831,entitled “Method and System to Provide Inter-Blade Server CommunicationUsing a Single Switch Backplane” and filed on Mar. 21, 2003;

[0004] U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/458,719,entitled “Method and System to Provide Inter-Chassis Blade ServerIntegration for Scalability” and filed on Mar. 28, 2003; and

[0005] U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/463,014,entitled “Method and System to Selectively Steer Data Traffic to ServiceBlades Using a Single Switch Backplane” and filed on Apr. 15, 2003.

[0006] The above stated applications are hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Certain embodiments of the invention relate to communicationamong servers. More specifically, certain embodiments of the inventionrelate to a method and system for communicating using a multiserverplatform.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0008] A server may be a computer system in a network that may beaccessed by one or more users and/or other computers. The server mayprovide, for example, access to information such as files, and toservices such as communications, printing or other types of servicesthat may be available through a network. In some cases, a specialnetwork operating system (OS) may run on a dedicated server, forexample, in a large network. A personal computer (PC) operating systemmay run on a non-dedicated server having, for example, peer-to-peernetworking software running thereon.

[0009] Generally, a server may have one or more advanced or morepowerful central processing units (CPUs), a larger memory, a largercache and more storage space than a typical single user workstation orpersonal computer. The server may include, for example, multipleprocessors which may be dedicated to a particular service or provide aparticular function such as e-mail handling, printing or communications.The server may also include devices such as, large power supplies,backup power capabilities such as an uninterruptible power supply (UPS)and various fault tolerant or redundant features such as redundant arrayof independent disks (RAID) technologies.

[0010] A single server may exist in a standalone enclosure and mayinterface with a network via one or more network interfaces. Multiplestandalone boxes may be situated in a central computing center with eachstandalone box coupled to a network via a respective cable. Each servermay interface to the network separately at a particular data rate suchas, for example, approximately 1 gigabits/second (Gb/s) for a GigabitEthernet or approximately 10 Gb/s for a 10 Gigabit Ethernet.

[0011] Thus, the single server in a standalone enclosure mayinefficiently utilize large amounts of space and/or power. Furthermore,since each single server may be connected to the network directly via arespective cable, a room full of servers might be overflowing withcables possibly necessitating detailed cable maps which may be quitetime-intensive and costly to produce. In addition, single servers in astandalone enclosure may not be easily replaced during failure,particularly when there may be multiple failures. Consequently, theconventional single server in a standalone box may ultimately sufferfrom a substantial total cost of ownership (TCO).

[0012] Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional andtraditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art,through comparison of such systems with some aspects of the presentinvention as set forth in the remainder of the present application withreference to the drawings.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Certain embodiments of the invention provide a method and systemfor communicating information in a server platform. Aspects of themethod for communicating information in a server platform may includereceiving at least a first packet from a first blade server of aplurality of blade servers at a first data rate. A determination may bemade as to which of at least a second blade server should receive thefirst packet and/or whether the received packet should be sent to anetwork. Accordingly, data responsive to the received first packet maybe transferred to the second blade server at a negotiated data rate. Thereceived packet may also be transferred to the network at a second datarate. A second packet comprising at least a portion of the firstreceived packet may be transferred to the second blade server at thenegotiated data rate. In this regard, at least a portion of the firstreceived packet may be transferred to at least the second blade servervia a common bus. At least a third packet may be received from thenetwork at a second data rate.

[0014] The method may also include the step of determining which of atleast a third blade server is to receive the third packet. Dataresponsive to the third packet may be transferred to the third bladeserver at a newly negotiated data rate which may include the previouslynegotiated data rate. At least a portion of the third packet may betransferred to the third blade server at a newly negotiated data ratewhich may include any previously negotiated data rate. A fourth packetmay be transferred over the network via a network interface at thesecond data rate. In another aspect of the invention, a plurality ofpackets may be broadcasted over the network at the second data rate.Also, the first packet may be broadcasted to at least the first bladeserver and the second blade server at a newly negotiated data rate whichmay include any previously negotiated data rate.

[0015] Another embodiment of the invention may provide amachine-readable storage, having stored thereon, a computer programhaving at least one code section for communicating information in aserver platform. The at least one code section may be executable by amachine, thereby causing the machine to perform the steps as describedabove for communicating information in a server platform.

[0016] Aspects of the system for communicating information in a serverplatform may include at least one switch blade that receives at least afirst packet from a first blade server of a plurality of blade serversat a first data rate. The switch blade may determine which of at least asecond blade server should receive the first packet and/or whether thereceived packet should be sent to a network. Accordingly, dataresponsive to the received first packet may be transferred by the switchblade to the second blade server at a negotiated data rate data rate.The received packet may also be transferred by the switch blade to thenetwork at a second data rate. A second packet comprising at least aportion of the first received packet may be transferred by the switchblade to the second blade server at the negotiated data rate. In thisregard, at least a portion of the first received packet may betransferred by the switch blade to at least the second blade server viaa common bus. The switch blade may also receive at least a third packetfrom the network at a second data rate.

[0017] The switch blade may also have the capability to determine whichof at least a third blade server is to receive the third packet. Dataresponsive to the third packet may be transferred by the switch blade tothe third blade server at a newly negotiated data rate which may includethe previously negotiated data rate. At least a portion of the thirdpacket may be transferred by the switch blade to the third blade serverat a newly negotiated data rate which may include any previouslynegotiated data rate. A fourth packet may be transferred by the switchblade over the network via a network interface at the second data rate.In another aspect of the invention, a plurality of packets may bebroadcasted by the switch blade over the network at the second datarate. Also, the first packet may be broadcasted by the switch blade toat least the first blade server and the second blade server at a newlynegotiated data rate which may include any previously negotiated datarate.

[0018] These and other advantages, aspects and novel features of thepresent invention, as well as details of an illustrated embodimentthereof, will be more fully understood from the following descriptionand drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a multiserverplatform in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020]FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of acommunication system including a multiserver platform in accordance withvarious aspects of the invention.

[0021]FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a common backplane forinterconnecting a plurality of blade servers in accordance with anembodiment of the invention.

[0022]FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating exemplary steps for providingexternal communication using the multiserver platform of FIG. 1 inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] Certain embodiments of the invention provide a method and systemfor communicating information in a server platform. Aspects of themethod may include receiving a first packet from a first of a pluralityof blade servers at a first data rate. A determination may be maderegarding at least a second blade server that should receive the firstpacket. A data rate at which the first packet may be sent may also benegotiated. Accordingly, as at least part of a response to the receivedfirst packet, data may be transferred to the second blade server at thenegotiated data rate. A determination may also be made as to whetherdata responsive to the first packet should be sent to a network. In thiscase, responsive data may be sent to the network at a predefined rate orat a negotiated rate.

[0024] In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a second packetcomprising at least a portion of the first received packet may betransferred to the second blade server at a negotiated data rate whichmay be similar to a previously negotiated data rate. In this regard, atleast a portion of the first received packet may be transferred to atleast the second blade server via a common bus. In another aspect of theinvention, at least a third packet may be received from a network at asecond data rate.

[0025] The method may also include the step of determining which of atleast a third blade server should receive the third packet. Dataresponsive to the third packet and/or at least a portion of the thirdpacket may be transferred to the third blade server at the newlynegotiated data rate which may be similar to a previously negotiateddata rate. Additionally, a fourth packet may also be transferred overthe network via a network interface at the second data rate. In anotheraspect of the invention, a plurality of packets may be broadcasted overthe network at the second data rate. Also, the first packet may bebroadcasted to at least the first blade server and the second bladeserver at a newly negotiated data rate that may be similar to anypreviously negotiated data rate.

[0026]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a multiserverplatform 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.The multiserver platform 100 may include a chassis 110, a backplane 130,a switch blade 140, blade server interfaces 150, and a plurality ofblade servers No. 1, No. 2, . . . , No. n, collectively referenced as120.

[0027] The chassis 110 may include the backplane 130. However, althoughonly one backplane 130 is shown, the invention is not so limited and aplurality of backplanes may be provided within the chassis 110. In thisregard, one or more backplanes may be coupled together. In a case wherethe chassis 110 may include a single backplane, the backplane may beregarded as a common backplane, which may provide connectivity for theblade servers 120. The chassis 110 may be part of a single installationenclosure that includes a plurality of blade server slots which may beadapted for receiving one or more of the blade servers 120.

[0028] The backplane 130 may include, for example, one or more bladeserver interfaces collectively referenced as 150, which may be referredto as blade server interconnects. In this regard, the chassis 110 mayinclude a plurality of blade server slots that may be adapted tofacilitate connection between the blade servers and the blade serverinterfaces 150. In other words, the blade server slots may provide aconduit for coupling the blade servers 120 to the blade serverinterfaces 150. The backplane 130 may also include one or moreinterfaces such as a network interface 160. The network interface 160may be referred to as a network interconnect.

[0029] The switch blade 140 may be part of the backplane 130. In thisregard, the switch blade 140 may be integrated within the backplane 130or it may be a plug-in card that may be plugged into the backplane 130.

[0030] The blade servers 120 may be coupled to the backplane 130 via theblade server interfaces 150. Each of the blade servers 120 may thereforebe coupled to a corresponding one of the server interfaces 150. Forexample, each of the blade servers 120 may be plugged into or removablymounted in a corresponding blade server slot in the chassis 110 so thatit interfaces with a corresponding one of the server interfaces. In thisregard, the blade servers 120 may be coupled to the backplane 130.

[0031] Once the blade servers 120 are mounted or plugged into thechassis 110, the blade servers 120 may be coupled to the switch blade140 of the backplane 130 via the blade server interfaces 150. Thebackplane 130 may be adapted to provide connectivity, for example,between two or more of the blade servers 120. Furthermore, the backplane130 and/or the switch blades 140 may provide connectivity between theone or more of the blade servers 120 and the network 170.

[0032] The network interface 160 facilitates connectivity between thebackplane 130 and the network 170. In this regard, the network interface160 may couple backplane 130 and/or one or more of the plurality ofswitch blades 140 to the network 170.

[0033]FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of acommunication system 200 including a multiserver platform in accordancewith various aspects of the invention. The multiserver platform 201 mayinclude a chassis having a common backplane 211, a common switch-blade202 and a plurality of blade servers including, a blade server #1 203, ablade server #2 204, . . . , blade server #N 205, where N may be anyinteger number.

[0034] Each of the blade servers #1, #2, . . . , #N may be a server thathas been integrated on a single plug-in card or blade that may beplugged into a blade server slot of the chassis with the commonbackplane 211. The chassis with a common backplane 211 may provide asingle installation enclosure for the multiple blade servers #1, #2, . .. , #N.

[0035] The chassis with the common backplane 211 may also serve a commoninterface between each blade server 203, 204, 205 and the common switchblade 202. For example, common backplane 211 may provide a commonbackplane interface 208 between blade server #1 203 and the commonswitch blade 202. Common backplane 211 may also provide a commonbackplane interface 209 between blade server #2 204 and the commonswitch blade 202. Finally, common backplane 211 may provide a commonbackplane interface 210 between blade server #N 205 and the commonswitch blade 202. In this regard, the common backplane interfaces 208,209, 210 are part of the common backplane 211.

[0036] The common switch blade 202 may include N+1 interfaces and atleast a portion of these interfaces may be adapted to perform packetswitching of data frames between the N blade servers and the externalnetwork 206, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Thecommon switch-blade may include intelligence that may manage anddistribute data traffic to the relevant blade servers including bladeserver #1, #2, . . . , #N. The common switch-blade 202 may interfacewith each of the N blade servers via the common backplane 211. Thecommon switch-blade 202 may also interface with the external network206, thereby resulting in N+1 interfaces.

[0037] In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the externalnetwork 206 may include a 10 Gigabit Ethernet network connection andinterface. The external interface 207 between the common switch blade202 and the external network 206 may include a 10 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE)interface, operating at a data rate of 10 Gb/s. In this regardbi-directional network communication capability may be provided betweenthe external network 206 and the common switch blade 202. In order tofacilitate Gigabit Ethernet communication, the common backplane 211 mayinclude a plurality of Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) interfaces. The switchblade 202 may communicate with each of the N blade servers independentlyover the common backplane 211 at a data rate of 1 Gb/s. For example, theblade server #1 203 may communicate in a bi-directional manner with thecommon switch-blade 202 via the common backplane interface 208. Theblade server #2 204 may also communicate in a bi-directional manner withthe common switch blade 202 via the common backplane interface 209.Finally, the blade server #N 105 may communicate in a bi-directionalmanner with the common switch blade 202 via the common backplaneinterface 210.

[0038] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, thecommon switch blade 202 may have the capability to handle communicationwith the multiple blade servers 203, 204, 205 at the same time. In thisregard, the common blade server 202 may facilitate the simultaneoustransfer of information between any of the blade servers 203, 204, 205.

[0039] In an aspect of the invention, at least one of the blade serversmay be configured to provide a switching function. Accordingly, theblade server that is configured to provide the switching function may bereferred to as a switch blade. The common switch blade, which may alsobe referred to as switch blade, may include suitable hardware and/orsoftware that may be utilized to switch packets and/or connectionsbetween two or more blade servers wishing to communicate. The bladeserver may therefore have the capability to function as a softswitchand/or a hardware switch. In any case, the switch blade and the otherblade servers may be coupled to at least one backplane so that signalsassociated with each of the blade servers may be accessible by theswitch blade, the latter of which is also coupled to the backplane. Thebackplane may therefore be referred to as a common backplane.

[0040]FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a common backplane forinterconnecting a plurality of blade servers in accordance with anembodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown anenclosure or chassis 302, a backplane 304, a plurality of n bladeservers collectively referred to as 306, a switch blade 308 and a bus311. Also shown are bus transceivers 310, 312, 314, 316 and a controller318. Each of the bus transceivers 310, 312, 314, 316 may include atleast one transmitter that may transmit electrical signals onto the bus311 within the backplane 304. Each of the bus transceivers 310, 312,314, 316 may also include at least one receiver that may receiveelectrical signals onto the bus 311 within the backplane 304. The bus311 may be a time division multiplexed (TDM) bus, a frequency divisionmultiplexed (FDM) bus, or any other suitable type of bus. Accordingly,the bus transceivers 310, 312, 314, 316 may be suitable time divisionmultiplexed bus transceivers and/or frequency division multiplexed bustransceivers, for example.

[0041] Each of the blade servers 306 and the switch blade 308 mayinclude a bus transceiver that may be coupled to the bus 311. In thisregard, blade server No. 1 includes a bus transceiver 310, blade serverNo. 2 includes a bus transceiver 312, and blade server No. n includes abus transceiver 314. The switch blade 308 may also include a bustransceiver 316 and a bus controller 318. Although the bus controller318 is illustrated as a separate entity within the switch blade 308, theinvention is not so limited. Accordingly, one or more functions providedby the bus controller 318 may be provided by the switch blade 308. In acase where all of the functions offered by the bus controller may beprovided by the switch blade, this may eliminate a need for anadditional bus processing entity such as the bus controller 318.

[0042] Notwithstanding, the bus controller 318 and/or the switch blade308 may be adapted to control the transfer of messages between the bladeservers 306 and the switch blade 308. In this regard, the bus controller318 may handle functions such as bus access and bus arbitration. The buscontroller 318 and/or the switch blade 308 may also provide a switchingfunction that may permit messages to be transferred among the bladeservers 306 via the switch blade and from an external source such as thenetwork 170 (FIG. 1) to any one or more of the blade servers 306. Forexample, one or more messages received from the network 170 may besteered by the switch blade 308 to one or more of the blade servers 306based on a message type and a function provided by one or more of theblade servers 306. U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (AttorneyDocket No. 14221US02) filed Aug. 26, 2003, discloses a method and systemfor selective steering of data traffic of various data types tofunctionally dedicated blade servers which application is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

[0043] The bus controller 318 and/or the switch blade 308 may includesuitable hardware and/or software that may be adapted to control, forexample, bus access, bus arbitration and/or switching among the bladeservers 306 and the switch blade 308. The hardware and/or software maytherefore control the manner in which messages may be received from afirst blade server and transferred, routed or switched to a second bladeserver via the switch blade 308.

[0044]FIG. 4 is a flowchart 400 illustrating exemplary steps forproviding external communication using the multiserver platform of FIG.1 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG.4, in step 401, a first blade server may transmit a first packet of datato a common switch blade at a first data rate. In step 402, a secondblade server may transmit a second packet of data to the common switchblade at a negotiated data rate. In step 403, the common switch-blademay receive a third packet of data from an external network at a seconddata rate. In step 404, the common switch blade may transmit the firstpacket of data and the second packet of data over the external networkat a negotiated data rate. In step 405, the common switch blade maytransmit the third packet of data to a third blade server at anegotiated data rate. Although the exemplary steps are described in aparticular order, the invention is not so limited. Accordingly, theexemplary steps may be performed in a different order or some of thesteps may be performed concurrently without departing from the variousaspects of the invention. For example, according to some embodiments ofthe invention, step 401 and step 402 may be performed concurrently orstep 402 and step 403 may be performed concurrently. In another example,step 403 may be performed before step 402 and step 402 may be performedbefore step 401.

[0045] In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the seconddata rate may be higher than the first data rate. For example, the firstdata rate may be 1 gigabit per second and the second data rate may be 10gigabits per second. In this regard, 1 gigabit Ethernet (GbE) or 10 GbEmay be utilized. As a result, the switch blade 140 of FIG. 1 may havethe capability to handle communication with any of the plurality ofblade servers 120 at the first data rate and communication with theexternal network 170 at the second data rate. Notwithstanding, the firstdata rate and the second data rate may, however, be any combination ofdata rates where the second data rate is higher than the first datarate.

[0046] In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, data rates maybe negotiated to increase performance and provide more efficientbandwidth utilization, for example. Accordingly, negotiated data ratesmay result from negotiation between any combination of switch blades andblade servers. In this regard, a blade server and another blade servermay negotiate a data rate and a blade server and a switch blade maynegotiate a data rate. Additionally, a switch blade may negotiate a datarate with another switch blade and a switch blade may negotiate a datarate with a network component or entity. During negotiation of datarates by any of the blade servers and/or switch blade, a negotiated datarate may be selected that may be similar or different from a previouslyutilized data rate.

[0047] The integration of multiple blade servers into a multiserverplatform 100 (FIG. 1) may provide an increased server density and aneasier management of the multiple servers since all the servers aresituated in a single installation enclosure. Additionally, theintegration of multiple blade servers may provide a more scalable systemwith greater reliability. With regard to scalability, more servers maybe readily added, provisioned or commissioned to facilitate increasedtraffic and more servers may be readily removed to facilitate decreasedtraffic. The integration of multiple blade servers within a singleenclosure may more readily facilitate the implantation of faulttolerance and redundancy. Accordingly, the redundancy may ultimatelyresult in substantial reliability and significantly reduced downtime.

[0048] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, at least aportion of the blade servers 120 may include one or more of thecharacteristics as set forth below. The blade server 120 may be modularand self-contained, and may include, for example, a server on a card ora single-board computer (SBC). The blade server 120 may include forexample, a computer disposed in an ultra-dense card or board. Theultra-dense card may include, but is not limited to, a centralprocessing unit (CPU), a memory, a hard disk and networking components.The blade server 120 may be hot swappable, hot pluggable and/or adaptedfor plug-and-play capability. The chassis or enclosure 110 may providesharing among the blade servers 120 for one or more of the following:power supplies, cooling fans and access to the network 170 or storage.

[0049] Aspects of the system for communicating information in a serverplatform may include at least one switch blade for receiving at least afirst packet from a first of a plurality of blade servers at a firstdata rate. The switch blade may determine at least a second blade serverthat is to receive the first packet and in response, transfer thereceived first packet to at least the second blade server at anegotiated data rate. A determination may also be made by the switchblade as to whether data responsive to the first packet may be sent to anetwork. In this case, responsive data may be transferred by the switchblade to the network at a second data rate or at a negotiated data rate.

[0050] In accordance with the invention, a second packet comprising atleast a portion of the first received packet may be transferred by theswitch blade to the second blade server at a newly negotiated data rate.The newly negotiated data rate may be similar to previously negotiateddata rates. Notwithstanding, at least a portion of the first receivedpacket may be transferred by the switch blade to at least the secondblade server via a common bus.

[0051] The switch blade may also receive a third packet from a networkat a second data rate. Accordingly, the switch blade may determine atleast a third blade server that is to receive the third packet. Dataresponsive to the third packet and/or at least a portion of the thirdpacket may be transferred by the switch blade to the third blade serverat a negotiated data rate that may be similar to previously negotiateddata rates. The switch blade may also transfer a fourth packet over thenetwork via a network interface at the second data rate. In anotheraspect of the invention, a plurality of packets may be broadcasted bythe switch blade over the network at the second data rate. Additionally,the switch blade may also broadcast the first packet to at least thefirst blade server and the second blade server at a negotiated data ratethat may be similar to any previously negotiated data rates.

[0052] In an illustrative embodiment of the invention, referring to FIG.1, the system for communicating information in a server platform mayinclude at least one switch blade 140 for receiving at least a firstpacket from a first of a plurality of blade servers, for example bladeserver No. 1, at a first data rate. The switch blade 140 may determineat least a second blade server, for example blade server No. 2, that isto receive the first packet and in response, transfer the received firstpacket to at least the second blade server, for example blade server No.2, at a negotiated data rate. The negotiated data rate may be apreviously negotiated data rate. The switch blade 140 may also determinewhether data responsive to the first packet may be sent to a network170. In this case, the switch blade 140 may transfer responsive data tothe network 170 at the second data rate or a negotiated data rate.

[0053] A second packet comprising at least a portion of the firstreceived packet may be transferred by the switch blade 140 to the secondblade server, for example blade server No. 2, at a newly negotiated datarate. In this regard, at least a portion of the first received packetmay be transferred by the switch blade 140 to at least the second bladeserver, for example blade server No. 2, via a common bus. The switchblade 140 may also receive a third packet from a network 170 at a seconddata rate. Accordingly, the switch blade 140 may determine at least athird blade server, for example blade server No. n, that is to receivethe third packet. Data responsive to the third packet and/or at least aportion of the third packet may be transferred by the switch blade 140to the third blade server, for example blade server No. n, at a newlynegotiated data rate or a previously negotiated data rate. The switchblade 140 may also transfer a fourth packet over the network 170 at thesecond data rate. In another aspect of the invention, a plurality ofpackets may be broadcasted by the switch blade 140 over the network 170at the second data rate. Additionally, the switch blade 140 maybroadcast the first packet to at least the first blade server, forexample blade server No. 1, and the second blade server, for exampleblade server No. 2, at a newly negotiated data rate or a previouslynegotiated data rate.

[0054] Accordingly, the present invention may be realized in hardware,software, or a combination of hardware and software. The presentinvention may be realized in a centralized fashion in one computersystem, or in a distributed fashion where different elements are spreadacross several interconnected computer systems. Any kind of computersystem or other apparatus adapted for carrying out the methods describedherein is suited. A typical combination of hardware and software may bea general-purpose computer system with a computer program that, whenbeing loaded and executed, controls the computer system such that itcarries out the methods described herein.

[0055] The present invention may also be embedded in a computer programproduct, which comprises all the features enabling the implementation ofthe methods described herein, and which when loaded in a computer systemis able to carry out these methods. Computer program in the presentcontext means any expression, in any language, code or notation, of aset of instructions intended to cause a system having an informationprocessing capability to perform a particular function either directlyor after either or both of the following: a) conversion to anotherlanguage, code or notation; b) reproduction in a different materialform.

[0056] While the present invention has been described with reference tocertain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the artthat various changes may be made and equivalents may be substitutedwithout departing from the scope of the present invention. In addition,many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation ormaterial to the teachings of the present invention without departingfrom its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the present invention notbe limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but that the presentinvention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for communicating information in aserver platform, the method comprising: receiving at least a firstpacket from a first blade server of a plurality of blade servers at afirst data rate; determining at least one of at least a second bladeserver and a network that is to receive said at least said first packet;and transferring data responsive to said received at least said firstpacket to at least one of said determined at least said second bladeserver at a negotiated data rate and said determined network at a seconddata rate.
 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprisingtransferring at least a second packet comprising at least a portion ofsaid at least said first received packet to said second blade server atsaid negotiated data rate.
 3. The method according to claim 1, furthercomprising transferring said at least a portion of said at least saidfirst received packet to said at least said second blade server via acommon bus.
 4. The method according to claim 1, further comprisingreceiving at least a third packet from said network at said second datarate.
 5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising determiningat least a third blade server that is to receive said at least saidthird packet.
 6. The method according to claim 5, further comprisingtransferring data responsive to said third packet to said third bladeserver at a newly negotiated data rate.
 7. The method according to claim5, further comprising transferring at least a portion of said at leastsaid third packet to said third blade server at a newly negotiated datarate.
 8. The method according to claim 1, further comprisingtransferring a fourth packet to said network via a network interface atsaid second data rate.
 9. The method according to claim 1, furthercomprising broadcasting a plurality of packets over said network at saidsecond data rate.
 10. The method according to claim 1, furthercomprising broadcasting at least said at least said first packet to saidfirst blade server and said second blade server at a newly negotiateddata rate.
 11. A machine-readable storage having stored thereon, acomputer program having at least one code section for communicatinginformation in a server platform, the at least one code section beingexecutable by a machine for causing the machine to perform stepscomprising: receiving at least a first packet from a first blade serverof a plurality of blade servers at a first data rate; determining atleast one of at least a second blade server and a network that is toreceive said at least said first packet; and transferring dataresponsive to said received at least said first packet to at least oneof said determined at least said second blade server at a negotiateddata rate and said determined network at a second data rate.
 12. Themachine-readable storage according to claim 11, further comprising codefor transferring at least a second packet comprising at least a portionof said at least said first received packet to said second blade serverat said negotiated data rate.
 13. The machine-readable storage accordingto claim 11, further comprising code for transferring said at least aportion of said at least said first received packet to said at leastsaid second blade server via a common bus.
 14. The machine-readablestorage according to claim 11, further comprising code for receiving atleast a third packet from said network at said second data rate.
 15. Themachine-readable storage according to claim 14, further comprising codefor determining at least a third blade server that is to receive said atleast said third packet.
 16. The machine-readable storage according toclaim 15, further comprising code for transferring data responsive tosaid third packet to said third blade server at a newly negotiated datarate.
 17. The machine-readable storage according to claim 15, furthercomprising code for transferring at least a portion of said at leastsaid third packet to said third blade server at a newly negotiated datarate.
 18. The machine-readable storage according to claim 11, furthercomprising code for transferring a fourth packet to said network via anetwork interface at said second data rate.
 19. The machine-readablestorage according to claim 11, further comprising code for broadcastinga plurality of packets over said network at said second data rate. 20.The machine-readable storage according to claim 11, further comprisingcode for broadcasting at least said at least said first packet to saidfirst blade server and said second blade server at a newly negotiateddata rate.
 21. A system for communicating information in a serverplatform, the system comprising: at least one switch blade that receivesat least a first packet from a first blade server of a plurality ofblade servers at a first data rate; said at least one switch bladedetermines at least one of at least a second blade server and a networkthat is to receive said at least said first packet; and said at leastone switch blade transfers data responsive to said received at leastsaid first packet to at least one of said determined at least saidsecond blade server at a negotiated data rate and said determinednetwork at a second data rate.
 22. The system according to claim 21,wherein said at least one switch blade transfers at least a secondpacket comprising at least a portion of said at least said firstreceived packet to said second blade server at said negotiated datarate.
 23. The system according to claim 21, wherein said at least oneswitch blade transfers said at least a portion of said at least saidfirst received packet to said at least said second blade server via acommon bus.
 24. The system according to claim 21, wherein said at leastone switch blade receives at least a third packet from said network atsaid second data rate.
 25. The system according to claim 24 wherein saidat least one switch blade determines at least a third blade server thatis to receive said at least said third packet.
 26. The system accordingto claim 25, wherein said at least one switch blade transfers dataresponsive to said third packet to said third blade server at a newlynegotiated data rate.
 27. The system according to claim 25, wherein saidat least one switch blade transfers at least a portion of said at leastsaid third packet to said third blade server at a newly negotiated datarate.
 28. The system according to claim 21, wherein said at least oneswitch blade transfers a fourth packet to said network via a networkinterface at said second data rate.
 29. The system according to claim21, wherein said at least one switch blade broadcasts a plurality ofpackets over said network at said second data rate.
 30. The systemaccording to claim 21, wherein said at least one switch blade broadcastsat least said at least said first packet to said first blade server andsaid second blade server at a newly negotiated data rate.